Tag: Leadership

The Christian Purpose of the YMCA: Constitution & Goals

Do you know what is the purpose of the YMCA?
“The Young Men’s Christian Association we regard as being in its essential genius a worldwide fellowship united by a common loyalty to Jesus Christ for the purpose of developing Christian personality and building a Christian society.”
Learn more about the origins of this statement in the Y Constitution, and its stated goals!

Christians in the Y have debated issues of religious diversity and inclusion from Day One 1844, their genius compromise was the famous Paris Basis in 1855.

The American Y’s in 1869 adapted the Paris Basis, a document they struggled with in regard to its inclusive spirit, and established an Evangelical Christian Test for young men’s membership, it became known as the Portland Basis.

A crucial decision was made, due to lived experience of serving members from a diverse Christian heritage; in 1931 at the YMCA Cleveland Conference they abolished the Portland Basis and crafted this statement which is in our YUSA Constitution:

The Young Men’s Christian Association we regard as being in its essential genius a worldwide fellowship united by a common loyalty to Jesus Christ for the purpose of developing Christian personality and building a Christian society.

Constitution of the National Council of Young Men’s Christian Associations of the United States of America

The Constitution goes on to include these statements: 

PREAMBLE:

We, the Young Men’s Christian Associations of the United States of America, with the desire of conserving all the values of our past and likewise of unifying and strengthening our work to meet the challenge of our time, hereby establish the following goals for our members and their constituents, and adopt this revised Constitution of the National Council of Young Men’s Christian Associations of the United States of America.

 Constitution of the National Council of Young Men’s Christian Associations of the United States of America

the GOALS:

To develop self-confidence and self-respect and an appreciation of their own worth as individuals.

To develop a faith for daily living based upon the teachings of Jesus Christ, that they may thereby be helped in achieving their highest potential as children of God.

To grow as responsible members of their families and citizens of their communities.

To appreciate that health of mind and body is
a sacred gift and that physical fitness and
mental well-being are conditions to be achieved
and maintained.

To recognize the worth of all persons and to work for interracial and intergroup understanding.

To develop a sense of world-mindedness and to work for worldwide understanding.

To develop their capacities for leadership and use them responsibly in their own groups and in community life.

To appreciate the beauty, diversity, and interdependence of all forms of life and all resources which God has provided in this world, and to develop an ethical basis for guiding the relationships of mankind with the rest of God’s
natural community.

Constitution of the National Council of Young Men’s Christian Associations of the United States of America

These are powerful statements crafted to embody our values: responsibility to and honesty about our past and present, caring respect for all who are currently members – in ways inspired and instructed by Jesus Christ.

A regular and purposeful review of our YMCA Constitution, it’s purpose and goals, will go a long way in nourishing our roots in our history of extending Christ’s kingdom for all humanity, participating in the struggle and striving to fulfill Jesus’ prayer, “that all may be one.”

YMCA of the USA Constitution: cover page, preamble, purpose

Your Caring Matters: a YMCA Child Care Services Devotion

If you’re anything like me, sometimes you get in a “woe is me” place and you wonder – does it matter if I show up, if I care, if I put in the effort?

Yes, you matter – it matters how you show up, how you prepare, how you play, and how your pray.

Your loving presence and prayers matter to the children and youth in your life.

Your caring matters.

The attention and attitude, your presence and posture matter to the children you serve before and after school.

Here is a story of Jesus blessing children that reminds me of how much it matters:

“Then Jesus came to Capernaum.”
And when He was in the house He asked them, “What was it you disputed among yourselves on the road?”

But they kept silent, for on the road they had disputed among themselves who would be the greatest.
And He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them,
“If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.”
Then He took a little child and set him in the midst of them.
And when He had taken him in His arms, He said to them,
Whoever receives one of these little children in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me, receives not Me but Him who sent Me.”

[‭‭from Gospel according to Mark‬ ‭9:33-37‬ ‭NKJV‬‬]

Take a few moments to soak in the loving attention and caring presence of Jesus with the children.

Imagine that is you being drawn close, embraced by the safe and strong kindness of Christ.

And if we take Jesus at his word, when you care for children “in his name” – inspired by his presence in your life – God is present to that little one.

Whoa.

Your caring matters.

You showing up matters.

You being present matters.

You being attentive and safe and trustworthy matters.

Your work matters.
The children you care for matter.
You matter.

If you’re anything like me, sometimes you get in a melancholy attitude and you wonder – does it matter if I show up, if I care, if I put in the effort?

Yes, you matter – it matters how you show up, how you prepare, how you play, and how your pray.

Your presence and prayers of love matter to the children and youth in your life.

You praying for the kids in your care matters.
You praying for their families matters.
You praying for your family matters.
You praying for your coworkers matters.
You praying for your self matters.

If we look around at the world as some kind of guide for how much children matter, how much our caring for them matters, if you based it on wages or prestige or fame, you’d have to conclude that there’s a lot of “talk” but in reality it’s a low value.

But when you listen to the words of Christ, when you see his example, when we believe his instructions, we can conclude that caring for children in the way of Jesus is bring Heaven to Earth, is how God is present to the little ones in our life.

Whoa.

When we care for children with the tenderness and strength with which God loves us, when let children into our life the way we let Jesus into our life, the way we “receive” children is a way for us to “receive” God.

Being with children is a holy, sacred, beautiful, joyous work that requires us to be humble, forgiving, loyal, trustworthy, open, and playful.

It requires lots of love.

St. Paul in his letter to a church failing miserably at honoring each other, he wrote a memorable, provoking, lyrical poem to inspire them to love like God loves them.

It includes this reminder: “love is patient, love is kind.”

It’s a very practical and concrete example.

You know when you have been irritably impatient with a child, when you have spoken unkindly in exasperation and weariness.

It’s easy to defend our impatience and unkindness: if “their” behavior was better, or if we weren’t so tired, or…etc.

But: patience and kindness are acts of love precisely because we are usually irritated by something, generally weary and easily exasperated – it’s in those dreary moments that love is needed most.

When you are at your best with children it’s usually when you’ve chosen patience while still irritable, choosing kind words instead of snapping back – you know when you do it, you sense it in your spirit, and even if no one notices or compliments you on it, it matters, God sees it, and it is significant.

Keep doing the work of patience and kindness when you are tired and stretched thin – it’s good for your spirit, it’s healing for the spirit of the children in your life, and it’s a way that God is present in our midst.

I invite you to meditate on this artistic images of Jesus, to see the patience and kindness in his presence with the children.

See yourself as one of those children, receiving his patience and kindness.

See yourself as being one with Jesus, giving patience and kindness to the children in your life.

Take a moment to text a friend or send a note in the post mail, reminding them that they matter to you, to God, that their caring and kindness to children matters, and that their work matters to families in our community.

May the Grace and Peace of Christ Jesus be with you, always.

How the “C” Embraced “For All” via Religion and Continents: the YMCA & the World 1855-1955

While the original “C” was thin – 1840’s British Protestant Evangelical White Young Male – these followers of Jesus took to heart his prayer in John 17:21 and embodied it throughout the world; their willingness to expand the depth, diversity and richness of the “C” thickened it, giving it more weight, more room for unity, and more dimensions of reality.

What can this mean for how you embody the “C” in the YMCA?

Our YMCA mission seems to embody a tension between practicing Christian principles and being for all; yet a historical overview shows a progression, an expansion, a richness, of inclusion.

Not perfect, obviously; a struggle for sure – one that we in the Y get to joyfully and humbly participate in for our generation.

This summary paragraph below comes in the middle of an extensive yet readable dissertation exploring the global influence of the YMCA Paris Basis from 1855 to 1955 – a century of stunning innovations, horrific trauma, courageous love.

At one level it lays out how Faith has been a dynamic and crucial Dimension of Diversity.

It highlights significant historical realities regarding the “C” in the YMCA striding forward into new countries and cultures, new generations, new opportunities. 

By remembering our past, our roots, we can more wisely discern what we’ve been nourished with in order to stay engaged as healers and bridge-builders in the way of Christ amidst our present realities.

“The YMCA was a fruit of the Evangelical Revival of the 19th century.

Contrary to several other revival movements, which were separatistic, the YMCA idea was based on a sense of unity among Christians.

This led the YMCA to co-operate – often lead – with the major streams in the Ecumenical Movement of the 19th and 20th centuries.

The YMCA leaders were active in the Evangelical Alliance and Sunday School Movement; they were in the spearhead of the Muscular Christianity and student awakenings; they were inspired by the Social Gospel movement; they led the first meetings of Missionary Movement and the World Council of Churches.

Although the YMCA was Protestant in origin, it also adapted itself to Orthodox and Roman Catholic contexts.

In general, the attitude of Protestant and Orthodox church leaders was positive, while that of Catholics was negative.

In all different religious contexts, the YMCA aimed to lead youth to their respective churches.

Extending out of Europe and North America, the YMCA faced new problems and sought answers to them.

The area that had, along with the two ‘Christian continents’, the most profound effect on the mission view of the YMCA, was Asia.

In the Near East, the YMCA faced Islam and in India, it faced Hinduism and Buddhism.

In both contexts, the movement took the lead in interfaith dialogue with these world religions.

Additionally, in India, the YMCA faced the problems of rural youth – and aimed to adapt itself to their needs.”

Page 213-214 Ecumenism of the Laity: Continuity and Change in the Mission View of the World’s Alliance of Young Men’s Christian Association, 1855-1955, by Martti Muukkonen, 2002

How does this expansionist, diverse, “thick C” inspire you?

While the original “C” was thin – 1840’s British Protestant Evangelical White Male – these followers of Jesus took to heart his prayer in John 17:21 and embodied it throughout the world; their willingness to expand the depth, diversity and richness of the “C” thickened it, giving it more weight, more room for unity, and more dimensions of reality. 

What can this mean for how you embody the “C” in the YMCA?

With a dynamic and inclusive legacy like ours, who can you be building a bridge of friendship with through your faith, hope and love in Jesus?

Readable and thorough overview with brilliant summaries for inspiring reflections. Click pic to download the PDF.